You don’t have to pay a fortune or sleep in the park. There are cheap options in Boston!
Anyone who has visited Boston or any other major U.S. cities would know how expensive accommodation can be. It is the number one thing that eats away at our budget yet it is the most important thing when traveling. Having a roof to sleep under and a floor (hopefully bed) to sleep on is so important for all of us! I’ve met many travelers who come in and out of Boston that talk about the expensive $200+ hotel prices in the city so here are three ways you can travel Boston on a budget!
Hostels
I absolutely love hostels. Unfortunately, Boston does not have too many hostels. The hostel community in the U.S. is still very small compared to other places like Europe. However, there are definitely a few hostels in and around the city. My personal favorite is Hostelling International Boston. It’s cheap, clean, chic, friendly and also offer a wide range of activities for guests. There are many different types of rooms and the beds start at as low as $29.99. You can also rent out a private room for as low as $49.99. The best thing about HI-Boston is its location! It’s in the center of the city with walking distance to all different types of neighborhoods and things to do. It’s also close to train/bus stations and the subway system.
There are also other hostels such as 40Berkeley and Friend Street Hostel that offer budget prices as well. Hostels are also amazing ways to meet other travelers whether you are traveling with friends or going solo!
Couchsurfing.org
As an avid couchsurfer and someone who has hosted many guests in Boston, I can definitely say that Boston has a good couchsurfing community. I’ve met many members that are based in Boston and having spoken to many travelers who have stayed with them, people are accommodating and fun to stay with! Couchsurfing is the perfect way to have a FREE place to stay and meet locals. I’ve met some great friends through couchsurfing and I think it’s one of the best options available for budget travelers. But remember, couchsurfing is a community and a network. If you are just looking for a cheap option but don’t want to connect with people, I do not recommend couchsurfing.
Airbnb
I’ve only recently started using Airbnb. It’s something between couchsurfing and a hotel. Usually, you can get private rooms and instead of being charged per person (usually 2 ppl max), you are just charged for the room. Rooms are unique, some are absolutely gorgeous, and are cheaper than hotels and more private than hostels. It can also be a good way to meet locals but Airbnb hosts are less likely to interact with their guests as they treat it more like a business than simply just hosting strangers. Although I do like Airbnb and it’s great when traveling with friends, I wouldn’t recommend it as the number one option. However, in cities like New York where hotels are expensive, hostels are usually full and couchsurfing hosts are not easy to find, Airbnb is an awesome option.
Hotels in Boston usually start from $200 and up but there are also a lot of Inns a little out of the city. Boston public transportation is pretty well set up so if you are not looking for night outs and are with family, staying a little bit out of the city isn’t the worst option. There are also some in the city like Howard Johnson Inn at Fenway Park if you are not looking for anything fancy.
